Remove front bottom seat

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Sal Falletta

New Member
Joined
May 18, 2018
Posts
1
Reaction score
0
Location
NJ
I have a 2011 expedition. I'm looking to remove the bottom driver and passenger seat and change the seat cover. Any help or suggestions on how to do this?
 

Ltmax

Member
Joined
May 10, 2018
Posts
13
Reaction score
8
Location
Jacksonville FL
I've done about a dozen Expedition leather seats over the years from 99-2010 and they are very simple to do. Only four bolts and a few electrical connectors under the seat to disconnect (make sure to slide the seat back forward before undoing the power so you can fit it out the door opening. Got my OEM style replacements from a few different vendors online and they all were great quality and fit fine.

To do the bottom covers only you don't even have to take off the top of the seat just tilt it back a bit and remove the two plastic covers on the side and you'll have all the access you need to take the cover off. There are a few good video's online that show how to do it. Usually takes me about 2-3 hours to do both seats and aside from a large torx socket to unbolt the seat, no special tools are required.

One of the best things you can do to improve the look of your car for a few hundred bucks.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.
 

star-art

Full Access Members
Joined
Aug 23, 2010
Posts
540
Reaction score
155
Location
Pacific Northwest
Your truck has side impact airbags in the seats so proceed with caution. "De-power" the SRS before working on the seat. Usually this means disconnecting the battery for at least 10 minutes. The airbag connector is bright yellow. If you disconnect it and take the seats out, be sure it's reconnected properly and there is no airbag warning light after you're done.

In addition, there is a critical airbag-related computer and sensor in the passenger side seat bottom under the foam. If you're just swapping the seat cover, there should be no reason to mess with this. But, still, be careful working around the passenger seat. Any problems will result in an airbag warning light after you're done.
 

Adieu

Full Access Members
Joined
Dec 22, 2016
Posts
3,700
Reaction score
786
Location
SoCal
Ive done it recently

4 bolts to remove the seat, unclick all the wiring harnessses. Pull it out (HEAVY!), turn upside down, pry up the plastics carefully with a vinyl prybar. Don't force things, there's several hidden screws and bolts holding things together.

Front plastic panel goes first afair. Few screws underneath.


If you have any manual dial-type controls or recline levers, take an eyeglass repair flathead pry out the center circle, should be a bolt underneath. Unscrew, then pull it off.

Remove headrest if doing the top, then pull up the plastic headrest holders (they come out of the pipe theyre in). Then unzip the rear, unclip the long clips using a long flathead screwdriver inserted into them parallel to the clip, and start pulling up gently.


You'll run into hog rings (cross between a staple and a nail bent into a loop) holding the leather, use 90 degree needle nose pliers to unsnap em. Its a pita, go slow and careful.

Repeat process backwards to install, use hogrings and straight needle nose pliers to install grabbing the new hog ring and just pressing (hog ring "pliers" that automate the staple feed usually won't fit/grab) OR use small heavy duty zipties instead. Have BOTH on hand before you start.

Have vinyl gloves to handle the leather.

When trying to get the clips into position, youll need a LOT of force and itll drive you crazy. You can use vinyl pry tools in the clips to help pull em together. A helper may be needed to get the zippers to come together.


Bottom is pretty much same, but simpler.


This will probably take you ALL DAY for the first seat. Have a good supply of beer and ibuprofen, you'll be sore and frustrated
 
Top